Venkatarama Ramalingam Pillai

Venkatarama Ramalingam Pillai was a noted poet belonging to Tamil literature. He was also a freedom fighter of 20^th century. He wrote many poems which catalyzed freedom struggle movement. Also known as Namakkal Kavignar, Venkatarama Ramalingam Pillai was born on October 19, 1888 at Mohanur. ‘Kathiyind Rakthamindi Yudhamond’ is one of his popular patriotic poems. He wrote hundreds of patriotic poems with patriotic favour named 'Nathu Kummi' and has been involved with Salt Satyagraha in 1930, for which he was jailed for one year. He received "Padmabhushan" award in 1971 for his contributions to Tamil poetry and social work. He died on August 24, 1972.

Pillai was born on October 19, 1888 at Mohanur of Namakkal District. His father worked as a Head constable at Mohanur under British rule. He had 7 siblings. His mother was a homemaker. After schooling from Namakkal and Coimbatore, he completed graduation from Bishop Heber College, Trichy in 1909. He started off his professional career as a clerk at Namakkal Tahsildar's office, followed by a primary school teacher. His father desired Ramalingam to become a sub-inspector, and he insisted Ramalingam to take the clerical and teacher’s jobs which he disliked. Later he took up his profession of portrait painter and photographer in which he excelled.

He later become an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi and started writing patriotic poems. He had interest in writing poems since childhood. In the 1920s he rose to a prominent leader in Namakkal. He continued with his poetic contributions after Indian independence as well. In 1962, Namakkal Kavignar was nominated as MLC by the Madras Government. Though he was nominated to Sahitya Academy Award in 1953 he couldn’t win it. He suffered from rheumatism during his last years and passed away in 1972, one year after government of India honoured him with Padmabhushan. He was named as Poet Laureate or 'Asthana Kavignar' in 1949 by Madras State. Ramalingam also wrote novels of which 'Malaikallan' is most popular. This work was later adopted as film script for five languages.